Most of you probably heard recently about more cease and desist letters sent from FUNimation to fansubbers of series that FUNi hasn’t actually announced, including Nabari no Ou and Slayers Revolution. FUNi just sent out notice to make sure we didn’t think they had actually acquired the license to any of these series, stating that:

We can confirm that FUNimation Entertainment has obtained has obtained an agreement authorizing FUNimation to act on behalf of d-rights and Enoki Films, Ltd. to prevent infringement on specific titles.

The authorization agreement for d-rights is for 5 series in total:

Monochrome Factor
Nabari no Ou
Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn
Bamboo Blade
El Cazador de la Bruja

We also have an authorization agreement for Enoki Films Ltd for Slayers Revolution.

Though these series have not been licensed to a local distributor in North America, it is important to note that the rights owned by Japanese producers are still applicable, and enforceable, worldwide.

Industry watchers and anime fans have long known our stance on the unauthorized distribution of anime, especially prior to localization. The practices of illegal downloads and ‘fansubbing’ are very harmful to our Japanese partners and as part of the longstanding relationship between FUNimation and d-rights and Enoki Films, we have been asked to monitor and take action against unauthorized distribution of these titles. Because we believe that this will benefit the industry, we have agreed to do so.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because they have done the same thing for Gonzo titles like Romeo x Juliet (though FUNi did end up picking that one up. Hmm.)

Posted by gia in Anime, Legal, News, Western News • Comments (7)

So we’re up to ~episode six in most series, which is the halfway point for the Fall season (though not necessarily the halfway point for each show). I figured I’d check in and talk about where I am with each show these days.

• Bamboo Blade: Miya-Miya owns the ass of every female character this season, hands down. Then again, it’s not like she’s up against a lot of competition. Status: Watching regularly.
• Blue Drop: The pacing is sooo slow, it took until episode three or four for anything to actually happen. But the promise of lesbians keeps me going. Status: Watching regularly.
• Clannad: I maintain that this show would be so much better if they would just ditch Nagisa entirely. Beyond that, I’m liking it better than I expected to. I do still wish that anyone looked somewhat close to how old they actually are / sound…but eh. Status: Watching regularly.
• Dragonaut: The Resonance: I can’t explain why I keep watching this show. I’m not really fond of the art style, the plot is pretty mediocre…and yet, I keep watching. I blame the boobies. Status: Watching regularly.
• Genshiken 2: Ogiue’s Sasahara x Madarama FTW. That is all. Status: Watching regularly.
• Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun: GOOO REIKA! GO GO GO! Mayu’s cute, but boring. Status: Watching regularly.
• Jyuushin Enbu: Story-wise it’s gotten better, but the art and animation are still incredibly mediocre compared to FMA, and the characters aren’t as cool either. Status: Watching every so-often.
• Kaiji: I’m interested in seeing where this goes, but running out of space on my anime plate for watching it. Status: Dropped for watching later.
• Kidou Senshi Gundam 00: Major improvements in terms of developing characters, but I think I still like the ending theme better than anything else about the show. Status: Watching regularly.
• KimiKiss: I like this show, and I think it’s because it’s a dating sim but not one that focuses on one guy and a dozen girls, but rather a group of friends (male and female) and their love lives. Status: Watching regularly.
• Kodomo no Jikan: Epic yet uncomfortable win. But I’ve ranted about this show being undervalued as mere pedo fodder enough, so suffice to say Status: Watching regularly.
• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro: I would totally be watching this show IF ANYONE WOULD FREAKIN’ SUB IT. I’ve actually already seen people cosplay from the manga, and yet no one will sub the anime? Am I missing something? Status: Watching…if it ever comes out.
• Minamike: I like the show a lot, but almost all the comedy comes from either crazy middle sister Kana, or crazy Kana-like characters (Chiaki and Haruka each have a classmate with a similar dynamic). And Kana is never given the opportunity to have any redeeming features. Hmph. Status: Watching regularly.
• Moyashimon: This one’s a little behind, but I like it…though the agriculture 101 bits can be a little dull, the rest of the batshit insane stuff makes up for it. Status: Watching regularly.
• Night Wizard: I’m getting a little tired of Eris being the sweet, cheerful, flock-of-birds attracting Mary Sue, and annoyed at Renji being the show’s whipping boy with, like Minamike’s Kana, no real opportunity to redeem himself. Status: Considering dropping.
• Prism Ark: …One episode was really enough. Status: Dropped.
• Rental Magika: It got so boring in episode three I just couldn’t continue. Status: Dropped.
• Shinrei Kari / Ghost Hound: I still have some issues with the art style, but the pacing has picked itself up nicely and I’m curious to see where it’s going. Status: Watching regularly.
• Shion no Oh: Mmm, delicious trap, must eat. Status: Watching regularly.
• Shugo Chara! Mmm, delicious magical girl, must eat. This is probably one of the more solid shows of the season, IMO, though it’s obvious not for everyone. Status: Watching regularly.
• Suteki Tantei Labyrinth: Looks cute, but pretty dull– I’m more interested in the dolls than in anything to do with the main character. Status: Dropped.

Posted by gia in Commentary, Fall '07 Series • Comments (8)

• Title: Bamboo Blade
• Studio: AIC
• Genre: Comedy

Ratings (out of 5):

• Story: ♥♥♥

• Animation: ♥♥♥
• Characters: ♥♥♥♥
• OP/ED Themes: ♥♥♥♥
• Overall: ♥♥♥♥ (A kendo match on the first date? That’s hot.)
  

Thoughts:
Fans of Gurren Lagann will perk up from the very beginning of the first episode of Bamboo Blade, when a familiar voice starts babbling about performing an impossible mission…that’s right, it’s Katsuyuki Konishi, a.k.a. Kamina, who voices the broke kendo teacher who tries to build an all-female team to beat his sempai’s for the sake of winning a year of free meals!

While Ishida is as hot-blooded as Kamina, he’s much less of an actual badass– but that’s okay, because the girls will be doing most of the fighting in this. The art style suffers a bit from the girls looking too young, but the characters we’ve met so far are pretty enjoyable. Club leader Kirino reminds me a bit of a non-otaku Konata; sometimes she’s wacky and off in her own world, but other times she’s making caustic remarks about those around her.

We’ve met two other girls so far. First up is Tamaki Kawazoe, whose dad is a kendo expert. She’s so used to doing kendo that she thinks of it as part of her daily chores rather than a hobby, and therefore isn’t interested in joining the club…for now. The second girl, MiyaMiya (Miyako Miyazaki), is dating the rather unattractive and wussy Eiga-kun, who has also joined the club. We haven’t seen much of her personality, but she’s beautiful and sweet and for the moment that’s good enough for me.

The show’s fairly amusing, though I wouldn’t call it laugh-out-loud hilarious for now. But definitely enjoyable enough to watch more.

Posted by gia in Commentary, Fall '07 Series • Comments (3)